Automatic bpbinzlee



(No Model.)

C. F. ROPLR. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

VNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

`CHARLES F. ROPER, OF IIOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE DRAPER da SONS, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,396, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed June 8, 1889. Serial No. 313,556. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

-e it known that I, CHARLES, F. Borna, of Hopedale, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Sprinklers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

lThis invention relates to automatic sprinko lers of that class in which a valve controlling the iioW of water is sealed or held closed by means of p solder or other suitable material fusible at a substantially low temperature.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient sprinkler; and it consists in an automatic sprinkler having novel features of construction, as will be hereinafter pointed out in the claims at the end of this specilication.

Figure l shows in vertical section a sufficient portion of an automatic sprinkler embodying my invention as applied to a pipe to enable it to be understood, the valve being shown in its closed position. Fig. 2 is an elee 5 vat-ion and section of the sprinkler shown in Fig. l, the Valve being shown open; Figs. 3, a, and 5, detals'to be referred to, and Fig. 6

a modification to be referred to.

The pipe A, which .may be a main or branch 3.o pipe, located, it may be, in a room of a building, is provided at its end, as herein shown, With screw-threads on its inner surface to be engaged by a threaded nipple ct, preferably forming part of a casting or valve-casing ct', having feet (t2, to which are secured a plate or disk a3, the said plate, which constitutes the defiector of my improved sprinkler, being fastened to the feet @which extend through suitable holes in the said plate or disk. The

4Q detlector a3 has secured to or forming part of it, as herein shown,.a hollow sleeve b, which is extended through the said deflector and projects below the same. The hollow sleeve b is provided on its inner side near its end with preferably inclined shoulders b', (see Figs. 1 and 4,) which support the ends of a valve-stem h gbof a valve h3, (herein shown as a diskvalve,) which is extended up into the casting a when in its normal position. The

5o valve-stein b2 is preferably split longitudinally to form two spring-arms 4, (see Fig. 5,) which, when the valve is inserted up into the casting d into its normal position, are spread or sprung `apart and restrupon the shoulders b of the sleeve b, the said arms being bev 55 eled at their ends, as shown, to more firmly rest upon the said shoulders, to which they may be secured by any suitable solder or like material capable of fusing at a substantially low temperature, the solder also entering be- 6o tween the ends of the arms to aid in keeping them separated.

The sleeve b is herein shown as cut away on diametrically-opposite sides, as at. c, (see Fig. 3,) to permit of a free circulation of air o5 into and through it.

The valve h3 will preferably be made of smaller diameter than the diameter of the opening Vin the casting d', into which the valve is inserted when in its normal position, 7o as shown in Fig. l, and the said valve is rendered water-tight, as herein shown, by means of plates or disks c', preferably of tin-foil, and a packing c2, of paraffme. (Indicated by heavy dark line c2, Fig. l.)-

I prefer to employ a valve and disks of tinfoil and a packing c2, of parafiine, substantially as shown in Fig. l; but I do not desire to limit myself to this particular form of valve and means for rendering it Water-tight, 8o as other forms may be employed.

In the operation of my improved sprinkler the valve b3, which is normally closed and held in this position by means of the fusible solder securing the arms 4 of the valve-stem 85 upon the shoulder b of the hollow sleeve, is opened by the pressure of water in the pipe A, when the arms 4 are disconnected from their shoulders by the melting of the fusible solder, which occurs when the temperature 9o in t-he locality in which the sprinkler is placed has reached a predetermined point. On the melting of the solder the spring-arms 4 come together and resume their normal shape, and the diameter of the valvestem being less 9 than the diaineterof the opening in the end of the hollow sleeve the said valve-stein is forced through the opening in the end of the said hollow sleeve b4 by the pressure of the water or other medium in the pipe A, thus Ico forcing the valve b3 out of the casting a and down upon the defieetor a3, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby leaving a free opening or unobstructed passage for the discharge of water in the pipe A upon the defiector a, from which it is thrown in all directions in the form of a spray. The disks c', as herein shown, rest upon an annular ledge or shoulder c on the interior of the casting a.

I prefer to form the valve-stein integral with the valve and to split it longitudinally to form spring-arms, as described; but I do not desire to limit my invention to this construction,'as the valve-stem may be made independently of the valve-as, for instance, as shown in Fig. (i, wherein the valve-stein is made in two separate parts or pieces having their upper end shaped to fit into a socketor recess in the under face of the valve. So, also, it is evident that the valve could be sup ported b v one arm.

I claim- 1. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination, with a valve-easing` adapted to be secured to a supply-pipe, of a valve provided with spring-arms forming the valve-stein, a distributer having an opening through which the said arms are extended, and a support secured to said distributer and to which said spring-arms are secured when in operative position, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination, with a deflector and a casting CL', of a hollow sleeve extended below the said deilector and a valve located above the said deleetor and provided with a valve-stein extended into the said hollow sleeve, the said Valve-stein being split longitudinally to form arms to be secured to the said hollow sleeve when the valve is in its normal or closed position, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination, with a defiector and a casting a', of a hollow sleeve extended below the said deflector and provided with shoulders b', and a valve located above the defleetor and provided with a valve-stem extended into the said hollow sleeve, the said valve-stem being split longitudinally to form arms to be secured upon the shoulders ofthe hollow sleeve, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination, with a deflector and a casting a', of a hollow sleeve extended below the said de- Hector and provided with shoulders b', a valve located above said deficctor and consisting of a disk b3, plates or disks c', and a packing c2, and a valve-stem secured to the disk Z13 and extended into the hollow sleeve and splitlongitudinally to form arms to be secured upon the shoulders of the hollow sleeve, substantially as described.

` 5. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination, with a valve-casing adapted to be secured to a supply-pipe, of a valve inserted in said casing, a spring-arm or valve-stem to support the valve, a distributer secured to said valve-casing and provided with an opening through which the Valve-stem is extended loosely, a support attached to said distributer to surround and support the Valve-stem when bent from its normal position, and fusible material to retain said valve-stem in abnormal position, substantially as described.

G. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination, with a valve-easing adapted to be secured to a supply-pipe, of a valve, a distributer secured to said valve-casing, and a Valvestcni composed ot normallyclosed springarms to support said valve extended through said distributer and independent thereof, a support for said spring-arms, and fusible material interposed between and separatingr said arms to secure them to their support, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two Subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. ROPER.

Witnesses:

E. D. BANCROFT, H. F. SEARLES. 

